If you've ever tired of waiting for your groceries to be packed, go to Clements' Market in Portsmouth, which employs Lauren Stevens, fastest grocery bagger in the state. Ms. Stevens, 17, beat her co-workers to enter the state's bagging challenge where she took first place.
Contestants were given the same groceries to pack in two paper bags. She'll head to Las Vegas next February for the national competition, staying at the Paris Hotel with $150 spending cash. She's a Portsmouth High School senior who turns 18 next month — just in time for some gambling in Vegas. She said she'll probably take classes at CCRI after graduation.
How was the competition scored? "Ten points for weight; under 35 seconds you gain ten points; ten points for structure (paper bag must stay up with food inside) and for weight which has to be within a half pound of each bag; five points for personality and five for appearance."
What was your score? "Twenty-eight-and-a-half out of 30."
Time? "I did it in 38 seconds. I was going so fast I picked up a Prego jar and threw it. So I had to go and get it and bag it."
Practice? "There was a practice table in the break room with the same groceries, in the same order. In the beginning I practiced 15 minutes every time I worked. At the end, I came in twice a day for four days straight."
Technique? "Memorization. On the bottom, I put all the cans, then boxes, then eggs and chips."
Thoughts on canvas grocery bags? "I like canvas bags. I think they're easier to bag. And you can get a lot more in a canvas bag."
Interests? "Hanging out with my friends. I like to go to social gatherings. I just like to have fun with my life."
You're daring? "I went mattress surfing down my stairs the other day and I sprained my ankle. I had done it before — that's why I did it again. But the mattress was too big to get down the stairs and I went sliding down, hitting every step."
Childhood ambition? "I used to want to be a chef, a pastry chef. But I just like cooking for fun. I make cakes. My senior project for school is making a wedding cake."
What kind of wedding cake? "Three- or four-tier with traditional white (sugar paste) frosting and some flowers, a border. It will probably be chocolate. My community mentor (required for senior project) is Karen Ferris who makes the cakes at Clements.'"
Like music? "I probably know every song on the radio. I like everything but punk, metal."
Favorite song? "Leona Lewis' 'Bleeding Love.'"
Favorite school class? "I'm culinary assistant in the culinary class. I grade papers, make anything extra that needs to be made, test out new recipes."
Your typical day? "School; after school I go to work or hang out at a friend's house. There's nothing to do in town."
Pet peeve? "When people drive slow in front of me."
What superpower would you want? "To fly so I can go places faster."
If you won the lottery? "I would give my parents a lot of the money, buy them a house and then buy myself a Range Rover in white because it's my dream car."
What do you drive? "Hyundai Elantra."
What do you do with friends? "We like to go to the mall. We love to shop for shoes and purses."
Own how many pairs of shoes? "Thirty-three, last time I counted."
Favorite beach ? "To swim, it would be Second Beach. To just sit there and tan, it's Sandy Point.
What will you do in Vegas? "I want to see the hotels, see a show if they have a musical."
Favorite musical? "High School Musical."
Your future? "I want to have a nice family, big house. Any job that gives me a lot of money will do. I just want the big house and fancy car."
By Jill Rodrigues
jrodrigues@eastbaynewspapers.com